Senior Scientist - Robot Perception: GE Vernova Advanced Research

GE Vernova’s researchers work on the advancement of Robot Perception technology for the industrial domain, ultimately contributing to the Energy Transition by electrifying the world and decarbonizing the energy sector.

About the role

As a Senior Scientist in Robotic Perception, you will play a key role in solving challenging robot perception problems for various robotic platforms (e.g., manipulators, quadrupeds) in industrial settings. You will join a world-class research team working on scene understanding, object manipulation, and vision foundation models, shaping novel techniques to expand the ability for robots to effectively interact with the world.

You will develop algorithms for robotic systems across industrial domains including renewable energy, power generation, electric grids, and manufacturing. This involves collaborating with GE Vernova’s business units, fellow researchers across disciplines, and external partners in academia and government on cutting-edge research programs.

Responsibilities

• Develop perception modules specifically for industrial manipulators and mobile platforms, enabling robots to interpret and act within complex physical environments.
• Create algorithms that bridge the gap between perception and motion (e.g., visual servoing, object-centric manipulation, and task-space control).
• Lead the development of high-quality, real-time code for shared robotic codebases, ensuring low-latency inference on edge-compute hardware.
• Advance the state-of-the-art in robot-centric perception; create intellectual property via patents and publish peer-reviewed research in top-tier robotics/AI venues.

Requirements

• PhD in Computer Science, Electrical/Computer Engineering, Robotics, or related fields (focusing on embodied perception/manipulation); or MS + 2 years of professional experience.
• Demonstrated research experience in at least three of the following:
  • Action-Oriented Perception: Visual servoing, hand-eye coordination, and real-time state estimation for robot control.
  • Embodied AI: Development of foundation models, learned visual representations, or task-planning architectures for robot manipulation.
  • Multimodal Fusion: Integration of vision with proprioceptive, tactile, or force-torque sensing for physical interaction.
  • Spatial Interaction: Practical 3D geometry, projective geometry, and robot-to-camera extrinsic calibration.
  • Edge Inference: Deployment of perception models on robotic platforms (e.g., NVIDIA Jetson/Orin) with strict latency and compute constraints.
• Strong programming skills in Python (with popular ML/Deep Learning frameworks) and C/C++.
• Legal authorization to work in the US is required (sponsorship for Master’s level employment visas is not available).
• Must be 18 years or older; must be willing to work on-site in Niskayuna, NY.

Desired Characteristics

• Hands-on experience with physical robotic platforms (e.g., industrial manipulators, mobile bases, or quadrupeds).
• Deep practical understanding of camera models and the underlying mathematics of spatial sensing in real-world environments.
• Ability to creatively adapt state-of-the-art open-source research to the constraints of industrial field services.
• Excellent ability to document technical research and communicate complex autonomous behaviors to non-roboticist stakeholders.

Note: We are interested in hiring across a range of experience levels. If you feel your current experience may be slightly under- or over-qualified, we still encourage you to apply.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage.
• Access to Health Coach from GE Vernova, a 24/7 nurse-based resource.
• Employee Assistance Program, providing 24/7 confidential assessment, counseling, and referral services.
• GE Vernova Retirement Savings Plan (401(k)) with company matching and retirement contributions.
• Fidelity resources and financial planning consultants.
• Tuition assistance and adoption assistance.
• Paid parental leave and disability benefits.
• Life insurance, 12 paid holidays, and permissive time off.

Pay

For candidates applying to a U.S.-based position, the pay range is between $113,200.00 and $188,800.00. The Company pays a geographic differential of 110%, 120%, or 130% of salary in certain areas. Bonus eligibility includes a discretionary annual bonus.

Schedule

Full-time, on-site in Niskayuna, NY. Relocation assistance provided.